What is the medical term for nail biting?

The medical term for nail biting is "onychophagy." This term is derived from the Greek words "onychos," meaning nail, and "phagy," meaning to eat. Onychophagy specifically refers to the habit of biting one's nails, which can often be associated with stress, anxiety, or nervousness. This behavior can lead to various issues such as damaged nails, infections, and even dental problems, illustrating the importance of understanding this condition in the context of nail health.

In contrast, the other terms in the options relate to different conditions affecting the nails. For example, onychorrhexis refers to brittle nails that exhibit longitudinal ridges and splitting, onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail, and onycholysis signifies the separation of the nail from the nail bed. Each of these conditions represents distinct issues not connected to the behavior of nail biting, highlighting why onychophagy is the correct term for this specific action.